Tray carrier



Dec. 23, 1958 J. D. SMALL 2,865,545

TRAY CARRIER Filed Feb. 27, 1956 INVENTOR. JOSH D. SMALL HIS fl TTOPNE Y5 United States Patent TRAY CARRIER Joseph D. Small, Cincinnati, Ohio Application February 27, 1956, Serial No. 567,814

6 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) This invention relates to a collapsible tray carrying device which may be used in transporting a plurality of horizontally disposed trays laden with goods, although the, application of this device is not necessarily so limited. i

An object of this invention is to provide a light weight device for supporting and transporting a plurality of trays such as. those trays in prevalent use in the bread industry and in cafeterias.

Ajfurther object of this invention is to provide a tray carrying device which may be readily collapsed for'storage in a small space.

Another object of this invention isto provide a tray carrying device which compressively engages the trays carried thereby so that the trays will not fall from the device while being carried.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tray carryingdevice showing a single tray in broken lines inserted therein. 1 Y 1 Figure 2 is a side elevational View in reduced scale of the tray carrying device as carried by hand.

Figure 3 is a perspective view also reduced in scale of the tray carrying device collapsed for storage.

This tray carrying device is of particular utility to bakery trucks and the like, in that the device may be carried in the delivery truck ready for use whenever a delivery of one or more trays of bakery goods is to be made.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the tray carrying device indicated by the numeral is formed from two substantially identical angular frame members 12a and 12b. These frame members may be constructed from any suitable tubing such as aluminum or steel tubing.

The frame members 12a and 12b are joined-along their sides 14a and 14b by hinges 16 which may be welded or bolted or otherwise secured to the tubular frames. The hinged frames 12a and 12b are positioned upright as shown in Figure l with the axis of the hinge 16 extending vertically.

Within each of the frames 12a and 12b are three equally spaced horizontal ribs, 18a, 20a and 22a in frame 12a; and 18b, 20b and 22b in frame 12b. The ribs, which may be solid rods or metal tubing for light weight, are welded or bolted or otherwise secured at their ends to the upright sides 14a and a, and 14b and 15b, respectively, of the rectangular frames 12a and 12b. For some purposes the ribs may be seated in holesprovided therefor in the frames 12a and 12b.

When the frames 12a and 12b of the carrying device 10 are pivoted to a sufficient angle, one with respect to the other, a rectangular tray such as that shown in broken lines at 24 in Figure 1 may be inserted in the carrying device, the tray resting upon any pair of ribs ice 18a and 18b, 20a and 20b, or 22a and 22b. The tray 24 is placed upon the carrying device so that the inward side thereof abuts the hinged upright sides 14a and 14b. Three trays can be supported by the carrying device 10 as shown in Figure 2.

The three pairs of ribs are spaced apart to provide clearance for goods carried in the trays. Thus, the spacing between the lowest pair of ribs 18a and 18b and the lower horizontal sides 26a and 26b of the frames 12a and 12b is relatively small and the spacing between the upper pair of ribs 22a and 22b and the upper horizontal sides 28a and 28b of the frames 12a and 12b is relatively large. i

The lower horizontal sides of the frame members 12a and'llb are elongated so as to provide foot portions 29a and 2% adjacent the vertical sides 15a and 15b, respectively, joining therewith. This construction reduces any tendency the tray carrier may have to tilt forward under the weight of the trays supported thereby.

A carrying handle 30 is connected to the upper horizontal sides 28a and 28b of the frames 12a and 121; by a cable 32 forming a bail. The cable 32 is threaded through apertures 34a and 34b provided in the horizontal sides 28a and 28b, respectively, adjacent the upright sides 15a and 15b. The cable 32 is prevented from slipping out of the apertures Ma and 34b by placing knots 35 at the ends thereof or by any other suitable means. The

handle 30 so as to secure the bail.

It will be noted that the cable 32 engages the horizontal sides 28a and 28b at points which are'n-ot in vertical alignment with the center of mass of the carrying device 10, the center of mass being approximately the geometric center of the device 10. Thus, as the carrying device is raised by the handle St), the hinged sides of the carrying device swing'downwardly until thecenter of mass is in vertical alignment with the cable 32; .Similarly, when the carrying device 10 is filled with trays 24 of reasonable size supporting goods evenly distributed thereon, the hinged side of the carrying device will drop downwardly as the carrying device is raised by the handle 30 thus minimizing any tendency for the trays to fall out of the carrying device.

As the handle 30 is elevated, the upright sides 15a and 15b of the carrying device are drawn against the sides of the trays 24. This compressive force reduces further any tendency of the trays to slip out of the carrier.

As shown in Figure 3, the carrying device may be folded for storage by merely pivoting the two frame members 12a and 12b together.

The carrying device described herein has utility in factories, on delivery trucks,- ,and in cafeterias Where trays laden with parts, produce or dinnerware must fre quently be transported and where it is desirable that the carrying device may be collapsedto take up only little space when not in use. In the device illustrated, provision has been made for three trays. Clearly, this is a matter of choice. Depending upon the particular application of the tray carrying device the number of trays accommodated may be varied by adding or subtracting pairsof horizontal ribs from the frames 12a and 12b.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in theforrn, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A collapsible device for carrying trays, comprising a pair of vertically disposed substantially rectangular frame members hingedly joined along vertical sides thereof so as to be pivotal one with respect to the other, each frame member having a plurality of spaced horizontal ribs extending between opposite vertical sides thereof, the spaced ribs of one member being aligned horizontally with the corresponding spaced ribs in the other member and flexible bail means connecting the top portion of the rectangular frames intermediate the vertical sides thereof;

2. A collapsible device for carrying trays according to claim 1 wherein the bail means includes a cable connecting the top portions of the rectangular frames.

3. A collapsible device for carrying trays comprising a pair of vertically disposed frame members, hinge means engaging said frame members along vertical sides thereof, said members being thereby pivotal one with respect to the other about a vertical axis, said frame members each carrying a plurality of spaced horizontal ribs, the spaced ribs of one member being aligned horizontal- 1y with the corresponding spaced ribs in the other memher and flexible bail means engaging the top portions of the frame members at points remote from the vartical hinge.

4. A collapsible device for carrying trays comprising a pair of vertically disposed frame members pivotal- 1y connected one to the other, the frame members being pivotal about a vertical pivot, each said frame member carrying a plurality of spaced parallel ribs, the spaced member having a foot portion projecting from the lower corner thereof remote from the vertical pivot, each said frame member carrying a plurality of spaced horizontal ribs, the spaced ribs of one member being aligned with the corresponding spaced ribs in the other member and handle means extending between the frame members engaging the top portions of the frame members at points remote from the vertical pivot.

6. A collapsible device for carrying trays comprising a pair of vertically disposed rectangular frame members, hinge means joining said frame members along vertical sides thereof whereby each said frame member includes one hinged vertical side and one freely movable vertical side, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal ribs mounted within each said frame member, the ribs of one frame member being aligned horizontally with the ribs of the other frame member to provide a plurality of pairs of horizontally aligned ribs, said pairs of aligned ribs, upon said frame members being disposed at an acute angle, each providing a support for a tray the center of gravity of which is between said ribs, and flexible bail means extending between the upper portions of said frame members adjacent the freely movable vertical side of each for carrying said device, the construction and arrangement being such that, upon the device'laden with trays being elevated by said bail means, the freely movable vertical sides thereof compressively engage the sides of the trays and said device tilts slightly such that the center of gravity thereof is aligned vertically with said bail means with the result that said trays bear against the hingedly joined sides of said frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 127,948 Bassett June 18, 1872 194,816 Gollner Sept. 4, 1877 257,765 Rowe May 9, 1882 473,433 Smith Apr. 19, 189.2 590,963 Brown Oct. 5, 1897 

